Abstract
Peer support workers (PSWs) use their experiential knowledge and specific skills to support patients in their recovery process. The aim of our study was to examine the integration and role-finding process of PSWs in adult psychiatric hospitals in Germany. We conducted open nonparticipant observations of 25 multiprofessional team meetings and 5 transregional peer support worker meetings over a period of six months. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Regarding the integration of PSWs into multiprofessional teams, we identified three subcategories: “Features of success,” “challenges” and “positioning between team and patients.” Concerning the PSWs’ roles, we developed two subcategories: “Offers” and “self-perception.” The PSWs’ specific roles within a multiprofessional mental healthcare team evolve in a process over a longer period of time. This role-finding process should be supported by a framework role description which leaves sufficient freedom for individual development. Regular opportunities for mutual exchange among PSWs can help to address specific support needs at different points in time.
Highlights
The concept of peer support work in mental healthcare means the involvement of people with lived experience in the treatment of people with mental health challenges
Since 2005, Peer support workers (PSWs) have been educated according to the “Experienced Involvement” curriculum in Germany and other European countries, which is based on the so-called trialog movement (Amering 2010)
Observation of the transregional PSW meetings (PSWMs) offered the opportunity to learn about the thoughts, feelings and variety of challenges the PSWs faced during their job routine, as those meetings were used predominantly as a space for mutual exchange among the PSWs and had the character of a peer consultation
Summary
The concept of peer support work in mental healthcare means the involvement of people with lived experience in the treatment of people with mental health challenges. The development of peer support work and the implementation in the mental healthcare system has made progress in many countries due to changes in healthcare policies towards patient-centeredness. These changes were led mainly by Anglo-Saxon nations, such as England, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and some states in the USA (Shepherd et al 2008). There is still a lack of research about the integration and role-finding process of PSWs in psychiatric hospitals as peer support work is a comparatively new profession, at least in Germany
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